Gas fireplace service
Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repairLevel 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Why Fort Lauderdale Homeowners Choose DuraFlex Chimney Cleaning
We’re an independent DuraFlex in Fort Lauderdale chimney cleaning and repair service, and we’ve worked on hundreds of DuraFlex liner installations across Broward County since 2002. DuraFlex 316L liners hold up well in most climates, but Fort Lauderdale’s salt air and humidity create a specific set of problems most national guides never mention. Our techs see those problems weekly and know exactly what to check before a liner fails.
We’re not authorized by DuraFlex, and we don’t pretend to be. What we are is a local company with two decades of field experience servicing their 316L, Pro Series, Smooth Wall, and Aluminum liner lines. If you need Duraflex repair in Pompano Beach or have a DuraFlex liner in a Fort Lauderdale home, call (754) 354-1451 for an inspection or sweep. The price is in writing before we start.
Why Trust Ashby Chimney Fort Lauderdale for Your DuraFlex Chimney Cleaning?
Nathan Corliss, our owner, started in this trade through the vocational programs at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College before bringing his crew to the Fort Lauderdale market. He’s been on roofs from the Las Olas Boulevard corridor to the barrier island neighborhoods, and he’s pulled enough salt-corroded DuraFlex liners out of South Florida chimneys to know exactly what to look for before a small problem turns into a liner replacement. “Say the price first, explain the work second, put it all in writing – that is the whole business model.”
Every tech who shows up at your door is background-checked and uniformed. Every job gets a written price before work begins, and every repair comes with a written guarantee under our 365-Day Done Right Promise. That means if a covered DuraFlex repair fails inside the guarantee period, we return and fix it at no charge. We also stock genuine DuraFlex components locally so common repairs – caps, tees, connectors – don’t wait on a shipping delay.
Styles & brands we work with
Common DuraFlex Chimney Cleaning Problems We Fix in Fort Lauderdale
- Corrosion pitting on 316L stainless liners near the termination cap. This is the most common DuraFlex issue we see within a few miles of the ocean. Salt spray settles on the exposed top section of the liner and eats at the stainless, especially around fastener points. During a sweep we look for pitting and rust streaks that indicate the cap and top liner section need replacement before moisture works its way down into the flue.
- Torn or de-laminated inner liner in gas-fired applications. DuraFlex Aluminum Liners installed for gas appliances develop acidic condensate that attacks the thin aluminum wall. We see inner liner tears that let flue gas escape into the masonry cavity. That’s a safety hazard, not a cosmetic issue, and it usually requires replacing the affected section.
- Improperly sealed liner-to-flue connections. A surprising number of DuraFlex installations in Fort Lauderdale have gaps at the tee or connector joints, often from original installs done decades ago or from rookies who rushed the job. Those gaps let flue gas leak into the chimney chase. Our camera inspection catches these every time, and resealing with proper DuraFlex connectors is typically a same-day fix.
- Kinked liner sections behind zero-clearance fireplaces. Over-flexing during original installation leaves a crease in the liner wall that collects creosote and restricts draft. We find these kinks most often in 1970s-era Fort Lauderdale ranches where someone squeezed a liner through a tight damper opening. The kink usually means section replacement, though sometimes a liner can be re-rounded with care.
- Glazed third-degree creosote in wood-burning fireplaces. Fort Lauderdale’s humidity means even occasional wood fires can produce stubborn glazed creosote that a basic sweep won’t remove. It forms fast here because the liner rarely gets hot enough to burn off moisture-laden deposits. We use mechanical brushing with the right sized head for DuraFlex corrugated walls, then run a camera to confirm the glaze is gone.
DuraFlex Parts & Our Repair-vs-Replace Approach
We use genuine DuraFlex components for liner sections, connectors, and caps whenever they’re available locally. When a specific DuraFlex part isn’t in stock and the job can’t wait, we’ll install an equivalent UL-listed 316L stainless aftermarket part that matches the existing liner dimensions. We’ll always tell you which one we’re using and why.
Our honest rule: we recommend replacement only when corrosion has actually compromised the liner wall. Many DuraFlex liners in Fort Lauderdale that look rough on the surface are structurally sound underneath. A cleaning, resealing, and new cap can add years of service life for a fraction of replacement cost. If your liner genuinely needs to go, we’ll show you the camera footage before we quote anything. Call (754) 354-1451 for a straight answer on whether your liner needs work or can wait.
Our DuraFlex Service Process – Step by Step
- 1
Diagnosis. We start with a visual inspection of the liner, cap, and flue connections, then run a chimney camera down the full length. For DuraFlex specifically, we’re checking wall thickness near the top, seam integrity, and any kinks or tears. You’ll see the footage too.
- 2
Repair or install. We quote the exact work in writing before touching a tool. Whether it’s a new cap, a tee replacement, a section of 316L liner, or a full DuraFlex Smooth Wall install, the price on the quote is the price on the invoice.
- 3
Test. After any repair or install, we run a draft test and a camera pass to confirm the flue is sealed and drawing correctly. We also check the top plate and fasteners for the salt corrosion pattern common in Fort Lauderdale.
- 4
Warranty. Every repair gets a written guarantee. If a covered DuraFlex repair fails inside the guarantee period, we come back at no charge under our 365-Day Done Right Promise.
See the difference
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After
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AfterDuraFlex Products We Service & Install in Fort Lauderdale
Our crew works on the full DuraFlex lineup: the 316L Flexible Chimney Liner for wood and pellet applications, Pro Series liners for higher-temp setups, Aluminum Liners for gas appliances, and Smooth Wall Liners where draft performance matters. We keep common 316L components, caps, and connectors on hand for Fort Lauderdale jobs. We also perform Level 2 Inspections, Chimney Sweep services including creosote removal, and cap replacement on existing DuraFlex systems and full relines when a liner has reached the end of its service life.
We Also Service These Brands
We work with HeatShield and Gelco systems as well, so if your home has a different liner brand or a mixed setup, we can still help. Our multi-brand experience means we won’t push a DuraFlex part where another brand’s component fits better. We service what’s in your chimney, not what’s easiest for us to stock.
FAQs – DuraFlex Chimney Cleaning Service in Fort Lauderdale
Every year, no exceptions. Fort Lauderdale’s salt-laden air makes corrosion progress faster on exposed stainless steel than it does inland. Our annual sweep includes a camera inspection of the top section and fasteners, which is where the pitting starts. Even if you rarely use your fireplace, the liner is sitting in that salt air year-round. Call (754) 354-1451 to schedule an inspection before the corrosion reaches the point of no return.
Yes, in many cases. When corrosion is limited to a specific section, typically near the tee connection where moisture pools, we can replace that section rather than the entire liner. The liner has to be structurally sound everywhere else. We’ll run the camera and tell you plainly if a sectional repair is safe or if a full reline is the honest path.
It creates a different problem entirely. Gas appliances produce acidic condensate, not creosote. In DuraFlex Aluminum Liners, that condensate attacks the thin aluminum wall and causes de-lamination over time. In a 316L liner, the concern is less about buildup and more about condensation pooling at the base. We check for both during every DuraFlex in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale gas fireplace service.
A standard wire brush is fine for a 316L or Pro Series liner if it’s the right diameter and used correctly. The risk is using an oversized brush or forcing it through a kinked section. Our techs measure the liner and match the brush, then work carefully through any bends. For Aluminum Liners, which are more delicate, we use poly brushes to avoid scoring the metal.
That kink is almost always from the original installation, when the liner was over-flexed to get through a tight damper or offset. It creates a restriction point that catches creosote and reduces draft. Whether it needs replacement depends on the severity – a shallow crease can sometimes be re-rounded, but a sharp kink that has thinned the wall is a replacement situation. We’ll show you the camera footage so you can decide with your eyes, not on a sales pitch.
Most DuraFlex chimney sweeps in Fort Lauderdale run between $180 and $325 depending on liner condition and access. That includes the sweep, a camera inspection, and a written report with photos. If we find a problem during the sweep, we’ll quote the repair separately in writing – you’ll never get a surprise line item at the end. Call (754) 354-1451 for an exact quote based on your system.
Book Your DuraFlex Service in Fort Lauderdale, FL
If you have a DuraFlex liner and you want honest answers, a written price, and a guarantee that actually means something, call Ashby Chimney Fort Lauderdale at (754) 354-1451. We answer live, 24/7. We’ll schedule your inspection or sweep, show up when we say we will, and leave your chimney cleaner than we found it.
Written by Nathan Corliss, Owner at Ashby Chimney Fort Lauderdale, serving Fort Lauderdale since 2002.